Vertebral Compression Fractures

A vertebral (spinal) compression fracture occurs in a condition when the block-like part of an individual bone of the vertebra (spine) becomes compressed due to trauma. Commonly, the trauma necessary for breaking the bones of the spine is very substantial. In some cases, such as in people with cancer and in elderly people, these same bones can be fragile and may break with little or no force. The vertebrae commonly broken are those in the lower back, but may break in any portion of the spine.

Causes

Spine compression fractures can be caused by trauma, osteoporosis, and disorders affecting bones.

•Osteoporosis- it’s a disorder of the bone in which bone density of reduced that may increase the chances that an individual could sustain a vertebral compression fracture with small or no trauma. Women who have completed menopause commonly experience osteoporosis, but it may also occur to elderly men.

•Trauma- A severe injury causing a vertebra break may occur with a fall from the height in which a person lands on his or her buttocks or feet. It may occur in a person involved in a car accident.

• Pathologic fracture- This is the type of fracture in the vertebra that occur due to preexisting disease at the fracture location.

Symptoms

• Pain tends to be in the low back, buy may happen in the upper or middle back or neck. Some people also experience abdominal, hip or thigh pain.• Tingling, numbness and weakness• Losing control of urine or stool or inability to urinate

Don’t forget to consult your doctor, if you have the following symptoms with the back pain:

• Sever pain, numbness or weakness• Loss of control of defecation or urine• High fever

Treatments

A vertebral compression fracture caused by osteoporosis is commonly two-pronged, involving both treatment of the fracture, and the treatment of the underlying osteoporosis caused the fracture.

• Fracture Treatment- Treatment for the spinal compression fracture commonly includes nonsurgical care like rest, pain medication, use of ice or heat for local pain, and slow return to mobility. Surgery may also be advised. The two commonest types of surgery for this type fracture are kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty. Both can help the fracture heal.

A. Vertebroplasty- Our qualified surgeons at Vimhans PrimaMed Institute of Minimal Invasive Surgery are experts in this minimally invasive procedure which is designed to eliminate pain caused by vertebral fracture and stabilize the bone. During the procedure, low viscosity cement is injected into the collapsed vertebral body under high pressure, in order to stabilize the fracture and eliminating the associated back pain.

B. Kyphoplasty- More alike the vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty is also a minimally invasive technique designed to reduce or stop the pain occurred due to a spinal fracture, for stabilizing the pain, and to restore some or all lost vertebral body height caused by the compression fracture.

• Preventing fractures by treating the osteoporosis- Osteoporosis treatment usually include one of a combination of t he following: